Horsemen on wide
downs are often closely attended by a little party of swallows for
miles together, which plays before and behind them, sweeping
around, and collecting all the skulking insects that are roused by
the trampling of the horses' feet: when the wind blows hard,
without this expedient, they are often forced to settle to pick up
their lurking prey.
This species feeds much on little coleoptera, as well as on gnats
and flies: and often settles on dug ground, or paths, for gravels to
grind and digest its food. Before they depart, for some weeks, to a
bird, they forsake houses and chimnies, and roost in trees; and
usually withdraw about the beginning of October; though some few
stragglers may appear on at times till the first week in November.
Some few pairs haunt the new and open streets of London next the
fields, but do not enter, like the house-martin, the close and
crowded parts of the city.
Both male and female are distinguished from their congeners by
the length and forkedness of their tails.
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